Joe Biden pledged U.S. help to help within the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, which has devastated components of the southeast, together with areas in and round Asheville, NC.
In remarks from the Roosevelt Room carried throughout cable networks, Biden cited experiences of greater than 100 individuals useless and 600 individuals unaccounted for, though many have been troublesome to achieve due to the dearth of energy and cell service.
“That is an historic storm. It’s devastating. They’ve by no means seen something like this earlier than,” Biden mentioned.
The president mentioned that he deliberate to go to the area later this week, however cautioned that he didn’t wish to trigger a disruption if his safety wants divert sources from restoration efforts.
His give attention to the hurricane’s influence this week probably will focus media consideration on the tragic scenes. Networks dispatched reporters to Florida to cowl the hurricane because it made landfall final week, however the additional influence of the storm seems to have caught many abruptly. Native media, just like the Asheville Citizen Instances, has had steady protection, whereas via the weekend, nationwide community consideration was to a collection of tales, together with the Israeli assaults on Hezbollah and the presidential race. Some retailers have relied on photos from social media of flooded streets and whole parts of communities wiped away.
Biden mentioned that he might should request that Congress come again into session for an emergency supplemental request for reduction and rebuilding efforts.
“I’m right here to inform each single survivor in these impacted areas that can be with you so long as it takes,” Biden mentioned.
Kamala Harris was transient on restoration efforts final night time, and plans to attend a briefing later this afternoon.
Her presidential rival, Donald Trump, is visiting Valdosta, GA in the present day, and mentioned that he had deliberate to go to North Carolina however was suggested that communication is now restricted.
